Pooley must find extra gear in Glasgow

High jumper Isobel Pooley knows she must set a new personal best if she is to reign supreme in the Commonwealth Games

Isobel Pooley is going for gold in Glasgow - but may need to pull out all the stops with a lifetime best jump

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Isobel Pooley is itching to show what she is made of at the Commonwealth Games after leaving the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in London wondering what if?

With her Commonwealth Games bow right around the corner, Pooley headed to Horse Guards Parade on Sunday for some last-minute tweaking before Glasgow.

And after failing to clear 1.93m and secure European Championship selection at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix last weekend, Pooley was eager to prove a point in the capital.

However it wasn’t to be as the 21-year-old could only manage a best clearance of 1.87m to finish down in fifth – two-time world champion Blanka Vlasic victorious with a leap of 2.00m.

It wasn’t the result Pooley was hoping for but she is adamant she will use the disappointment to ensure she isn’t feeling the same way at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“The event was incredible, I’m just sorry my performance wasn’t a bit more spectacular,” said Pooley, who hopes to compete throughout the Summer Series.

“I have been jumping well this year and consistently and that performance was consistent but it was boring. It wasn’t boring to jump but it was a boring result.

“It was 1.87m again, I wanted to be pushing 1.90m so to not clear 1.90m is disappointing but I am learning to embrace that disappointment and use it to fuel a big performance later in the season.

“Hopefully that will be at the Commonwealths. That is the focus now and that is my next competition so watch this space.”

'Phenomenal event'

Pooley did not get to compete at the London 2012 Olympics two years ago as she narrowly failed to hit the required height to be in contention for selection.

And, with Horse Guards Parade the latest venue for the Anniversary Games after the Olympic Stadium last year, Pooley is hopeful it isn’t the last time she gets to jump in an iconic setting.

“I’m so proud of London and British Athletics for organising this event because it was just the most phenomenal event to be a part of,” she added.

“It was an absolute honour to be a part of it but I have to think that I believe to be a part of this and I do. I am starting to believe that and that is a great feeling and that will allow me to jump higher.”

Pooley wasn’t the only Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete on show with the action moving to The Mall where both Jonathan Hay and Team Scotland hopeful Steph Twell got a taste of the atmosphere.

Twell was the second Brit home behind Helen Clitheroe in the women’s one-mile race as she crossed the line in 4:38.00mins for seventh.

And in the men’s two-mile event, Hay was also the second Brit home and seventh as he posted a time of 8:41.00, 14 seconds behind American Bernard Lagat.